The Three of Wands Upright tarot card means that we must figure out what is holding us back in the moment. We’re at a standstill in life yet we can’t quite put a finger on what that resistance actually is.
If you have felt stuck for a while with no answers, then this is for you.
The Three of Wands Upright
We often make good progress in life then suddenly come to a place where we can’t seem to ascend any higher, yet we can see what’s waiting for us ‘up there’!
It becomes…well…a little frustrating! We have already become a little successful and yet we seem to have found ourselves in this happy place. It’s where we can actually struggle a little because the pain of non-progress gets to us.
We shouldn’t beat ourselves up for taking some time away. A yoga class, a spiritual retreat or a weekend away in the woods are all fantastic for the soul! But if we are stuck for a prolonged period of time, we have to go deep and find the source of our resistence.
Card meaning
The Three of Wands Reversed is a ‘Yes’ tarot card. We have done our psychic readings in most instances with the Rider Waite series.
We see a man depicted here who is looking over this vast open space. He has indeed accomplished some great achievements but is stuck. “How do I get to new heights?” he asks himself.
As we see the sailing ships go by, this represents the need to be progressive. Ships weren’t built to stay in the safe harbor. The man himself isn’t in the safe confines of the castle and can see everything that lay before him.
The red and the green on his robe symbolizes the constant stopping and re-starting in life. It’s that stopping part that the man himself can’t figure out. He knows what propels him forward but can’t figure out why he’s stuck where he is.
Indeed there are times where a situation is beyond our control, but this isn’t it. The man has control and yet he somewhat stagnant. This type of funk isn’t holding him back either as indeed many of us suffer from this.
Our internal restrictions
We need to go deep to discover the things that hold us back as creatures of progress. The world today presents us with so many opportunities to strive further in life without the hinderances of yesterday.
Indeed the hinderances are our own. Is it a childhood memory? The judgement of others? The fear of success? (Yes…that is a real thing!)
Whatever is holding us back is also the same thing that could propel us forward. For example, many of us are held back due to children in our lives. They need help, guidance, support and time. Plenty of time! Our hopes and dreams are set side to help them through this journey in life.
Now, instead of somewhat blaming our kids for not allowing us to progress, we instead insist that we must strive forward because we have children. Perhaps this is what is holding back the man on The Three of Wands Upright tarot card. He just needs to make that switch.
Such restrictions are just that. You have the divine power to unlock the thing that stands in your way, or simply re-direct such thoughts completely around.
It starts with a vision
You must ask yourself what you want your life to look like, and how wonderful it will feel once you get there. From there, you need to build a vision board. It’s these vision boards that can help us manifest more beauty and wonder in the world.
We were made to soar. For some of us, playing small is totally OK. Those ambitious folk are working too hard after all. But then again…we all have a vision of what we want our life to look like. If we’re not yet in harmony, then now is the time to make progress.
If we are to know the vision for our own lives, then we can better help ourselves to remove the barricades that lay in the way of progress. The man has already started as he’s looking way into the distance now towards a life that he desires to live.
Stepping forward
You hold the key to your own internal and external exploration. Life truly is an adventure and we weren’t born to hide away. Whether progress is big or small, it’s still progress.
At times, we will be tested. This is life tapping us on the shoulder and reminding us of how tough things can be, but we always have the personal power to strive for more.
It’s time to discover what holds us back so we can ascend to new levels of personal mastery.
Illustrations from the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck® reproduced by permission of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902 USA. Copyright ©1971 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. Further reproduction prohibited. The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck® is a registered trademark of U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
